In the heart of Wales, Polly Verity unfolds a world of delicacy and intrigue through paper, using the ancient art of origami as her medium. Her unique sculptures are not merely folded sheets but intricate tapestries of human emotion and form. Each piece transcends conventional origami, capturing the subtleties and contours of the human face with astonishing accuracy. Verity’s journey is a testament to the metamorphic power of paper, from the simple plane to the undulating waves of expression. By mastering the nuances of curved folds, she imbues each figure with a lifelike presence that defies the perceived limitations of a two-dimensional medium. Her creations speak volumes, narrating tales of craftsmanship and innovation in each sculpted visage, demonstrating how paper can be transformed into a canvas of endless possibilities.
Polly Verity’s groundbreaking work not only breathes life into paper but also redefines the boundaries of visual art. Her exploration into the dynamics of curved folds has resulted in sculptures that play with light and shadow, giving the illusion of depth and movement. Using watercolor paper, she gains an unprecedented level of control, producing faces that exude grace and sensitivity. Each sculpture acts as a link in a creative continuum, each informing the next, contributing to a dialogue that Verity has meticulously sculpted with her hands. Her ability to turn paper into evocative portraits elevates her craft to an art form where engineering meets emotion. Through her delicate and thoughtful craftsmanship, Polly Verity offers a new perspective on the relationship between material and form, inviting viewers to reimagine what can be accomplished with a simple sheet of paper.
When I hit the curved folds that’s when my brain popped. Seemingly impossible things could happen to a sheet of paper. My years of observing and investigating how curve folds behave has given me a feel for bringing the curves into the figurative realm. I tried to fold along the profile of a face, and I realized that I could tweak the paper on either side just very slightly and ease curves out to give volume and form. When I tried the same technique in watercolour paper, I suddenly had micro-control over the resulting curved forms and they became soft and sensual. So each face goes on to inform the next and they have become a sort of series.
Polly Verity
More info: Website, Instagram.
